The American Diet

“Every 35 days, your skin replaces itself. Your liver, about a month. Your body makes these new cells from the food you eat. What you eat literally becomes you. You have a choice in what you’re made of.”

With this information, what does your body consist of? Many of us ignore our health while we carry on with our busy schedules. Fast food really is fast food during a lunch break, but may not be the best decision. Let’s take a moment to think about what we’re taking in.

Trans fats increase your LDL (“bad”cholesterol) and may even lower your HDL (“good” cholesterol). Trans fat enhances the flavor and textures of  processed foods and stretches shelf life – BUT at a cost to your health. These fats can increase the risk of heart disease.

In 2006, it became a requirement by the FDA for food industries to list trans fat on their food labels. Recently the agency has begun a plan to eliminate trans fats all together. If this is successful, up to 20,000 cases of heart disease and 7,000 deaths may be prevented each year.

Until then, read labels and watch you eat. Take care of your body; it’s the only one you have.

The following are the recommended trans fat limits based on calorie intake:

Total calories         1% of total calories =   Trans fat limit

2,000                                       20                             About 2 grams

1,500                                        15                              About 1.5 grams

1,200                                        12                              Slightly more than 1 gram

source: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/understanding-trans-fats

Learn more: http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/nutrition/team-nutrition-resources-0115trans-fatfactsheet.pdf

Note: The food you eat affects the way you feel, energy, and productivity throughout the day. So, think about how you want to feel.

“The rest of the world lives to eat. While I eat to live.” – Socrates